John

I have noiced , since really the Afghan campaign and noticed it more and more in Iraq, that the US army's rifles seem to have all sorts of add ons on them, particularly on the SF ones. Anyone know what they are? animal

I believe they were usually issued to Thames Division and the Docks Divisions.

I have also heard of a nasty variant of this. It a round with a long hole drilled down from the top of the apex, almost to the base. A piece of mercury or lead ball bearing is placed in the bottom of the hole. The hole is sealed at the top, ensuring that a gap is left. The theory is that on firing , the filler is forced to the rear of the round, and on impact, the filler is impacted forward, causing the roung to fragment/explode forward. Sounds time consuming.

I think the most smashing piece of kit is the SA80. Everyone should have it

Looking at it, it almost looks like a US M3 Halftrack, pre op so to speak.

I saw in the Newspaper today that the SBS were awarded 24 awards and commendations for its involvment in Afghanistan. They included a George Medal for rescuing a US crewman froma crash landed Hercules transport and two Conspicious Gallantry Crosses for rescuing a CIA operative from the Taliban.

The MP7 is a new weapon still in the design and evaluation stages. It is shaped like the Uzi, with the magazine housing incorporated into the pistol grip. It is about two thirds the length of an MP5 and about half the weight. It is a 4.6mm weapon, and by the looks of it, has been principally developed for defeating body armour by using steel rounds , like the Soviet Gyurza pistol. It comes with 20 or 40 round magazines and is supposedly accuarate to 200m. wub.gif

Montgomery was cautious. At that stage in the War, Britain certainly did not have the Manpower to draw on any more. Most Wars are a war of attrittion of some sorts. Yes Rommel fought a brilliant rear guard action , but he still lost. Unlike most US Generals, most allied commanders had 'between wars' experience, in many Colonial actions. I don't think Patton had much , bar his naked ambition, going for him. And the boring General of WWII ( didn't smoke or drink ) wore his Staff capbadge and Unit capbadge because he was proud of being a Tanky. I once spoke to a top chap abroad, and he detested wearing the 'Staff' capbadge, much preferring his own. His supply lines were also not guaranteed , hence his caution, especially as he had been at War since the beginning , unlike the USA who joined in after 1941. Zuhkov was not a clever General. He purely used what he had in the simplest manner to achieve his aim. The Germans had the longest supply lines, the least numbers, and the least equipment and were the least equipped to deal with the Harsh environment. Even I could have made that decision!

Even if either side got their rations , it still seems dismal. More like they got very little of their rations, particularly later on. And frozen meat, in that era, bet the maggots didn't stay out for long.

I believe A Divn , of the the Met covered the Whitehall arae , and Diplomatic premises, in that area.

I know that the DC3 was the transport work horse of the allies, but it was hardly an 'all rounder'. The Hurricane was hardly an all rounder either, it was just the main stay of the Fighters. As for a replacement for the DC3, how about the Wellington, Whitley, Handley Paige or Liberator to name but a few.

Are there any maps or photos of this ?

Barney, Yet another blinding post. I'm going to keep these posts and write a book! Anyway, you can't retire to the lounge without more info on 'Gollum'.

I think one of the major facts was of the speed of some of these Courts Martial events. To be found guilty by a bunch of Ruperts , all of the same/similar rank , who know each other or of each other, with little or no defence, sometimes after an hour from start to finish disgusts me. The Army 'system' , is antiquated and totally unfair. To be charged with an offence at company or Battalion level is nothing short of a Kangeroo Court, with your liberty/and or pay easily taken away, Even at Colchester MCTC (military prison) the odd officer that makes it there sits in a Mess all day , where the Private is beasted all day. These men were found Guilty with little or no defence , usually by men who were never on the Front Line. I don't like cowards/ thieves/ murderers any more than the next man, but lets face it, how many of these convictions would be quashed if tried in todays Courts of Appeal? jumping

fantastic post. I am really looking to reading a copy of of your (signed! ) book. Don't be expecting me to put any posts on here for a while though, at least until I've finished reading it.... wub.gif

What a fantastice post. I feel like stalking you for the compass!! I am very jealous, and if you could maybe post any pics of the area/compass I would be very grateful. wub.gif

Very interesting. Its incredible that such a casualty intensive civil war was really just the same old load of 'pony' but in a massive scale. I won't be voting for Abe Lincoln again...

overall? How about the FW190, or the Mosquito, or the Typhoon ? Any takers?

But why would they have made a figure head of him before he was made famous?

Fascinating. You 've educated me already. I actually know nothing of this subject, but I will certainly ask around, and buy your book ( autographed of course, I hope!) whan it comes out.

I think the only great thing about the AK series is its simplicity,a nd the ability to keep updating it. If it was that great a weapon system, all the world's Special Forces would be using it, or at least a derivative of it, like the Galil or R4 etc. You've only got to look at the H&K MP5, which is used by everyone's SF to prove this theory.

I'm stunned that you don't enjoy that completely over rated leaking waste of vast amounts of public money which could have gone to better causes! And as for Lord Nelson, he must have two eyes at some stage in his life.....

I'm glad you brought up the Finn. i'd nearly forgotten about him. I believe he had approx 400 confirmed targets destroyed and used iron sights because it was what he was used to using for shooting game etc for their pelts ( eiders mostly, i think) pre war and because most of the targets were in the woods in the snow, and under 400 yards away. He used head shots on game to stop the pelts/fur etc being destroyed. He was seriously wounded by Artillery, and never went operational again. As for the Russians, they had masses of manpower, and I have never really classed them as snipers, mostly marksmen , which is true even today. Each Motor Rifle platoon has a 'marksman' armed with a Dragunov SVD, in the Platoon HQ. He has little extra training, and is there because he is the best shot. Anyway, the SVD is still the only sniper rifle to date which has a bayonet lug fitted! Why? There were several high profile women snipers in Russia but may have been a PR coup. The Russians certainly led the way in the Semi Automatic field with the Tokarev rifle, which the Germans copied badly. I have fired several of the WWII Rifles and I must admit there was little difference between them all, except for the quality of some of the sights. I did enjoy it though :food-smiley-004: Interesting about the Hythe chap, but then in his defence, he may have had the language barrier and have a fairly low standard of training, coupled with the fact his soviet rifle may have been the only weapon he had ever used. If you know any more of this , I would be interested.

Interesting. Was this the same for all nations? I imagine that if the shelling went on for a while, you might be hungry for a while...

But do Congress have to vote it in?